Brazil beat France 3-0 (25-22, 25-21, 25-21) - duration 1:20
05-Oct, start time: 14:10, end time: 15:30 - Attendance: 4,500Brazil takes a firm step to the "Elite Eight"
Brazil booked a very important stright sets victory over France in second round Pool J of the 2002 Men's World Championship. This back to back win in the second roubnd brings Brazil close to a place in the quarterfinal. Brazil made the match into a real exhibition and treated the 4.500 spectators in the Angel Malvicino Stadium in Santa Fe with spectacular volleyball.The performance of the Brazilian captain Nalbert Bitencourt was crucial in the Brazilian way of playing from the beginning of the match. Nalbert and opposite attacker André Nascimento were really the best players on the court. The French attack was limited to the contribution of Laurent Capet, who scored six points in the first set. Brazil turned out to be better at the end of the set.The second set was even more exciting. The fans still enjoyed this high level match. The performance of Brazilian star Gilberto Godoy Filho, better known as Giba, became better and helped his team to keep the advantage during the entire set.In the third set, the powerful Brazilian block was too high for the French attackerst. The Brazilian middle blocker Gustavo Endres intimidated the French spikers and his blocking was the key for Brazil to win the third set too. The South American libero Sergio Santos, the current leader in the best receiver ranking of the entire World Championship, excelled once again.The Brazilian setter Maurico Lima was at his best again and his quick sets brought France in deep troubleBrazilians Gustavo Endres and André Nascimento were the best players of the match, making 13 points each. "We are close to the quarterfinals now," Gustavo Endres said. "Our next opponent Czech Republic is theoretically the weakest, but we cannot relax."Laurent Capet was the best scorer of the French team with 12 points./ajm